Though Tim "Ripper" Owens had stepped in capably for the missing Rob Halford across a pair of Judas Priest releases from the late 1990s, the vocalist found himself unceremoniously let go once the group's reunion scheme took shape around 2003. His improbable climb from obscurity, after being lifted out of an Ohio-based Priest cover act, had already spawned a glossy but factually loose Hollywood vehicle called Rock Star, fronted by Mark Wahlberg, yet few expected much public interest in the sequel that would return him to obscurity. Only committed heavy-metal loyalists, still thankful for the years of dedicated work, the graceful departure, and the sheer vocal ability Owens had shown, might follow that downward arc, even while they longed to see Priest restored under Halford. Most recognized that his 2004 alliance with Iced Earth on The Glorious Burden amounted to little more than a temporary arrangement, and that the real horizon lay with an entirely fresh outfit, Beyond Fear. That project began to coalesce in early 2005 once Owens teamed with lead guitarist John Comprix; after rhythm guitarist Dwane Bihary, bassist Dennis Hayes, and drummer Eric Elkins came aboard, the group raced through recording sessions for its first album, DTO. Issued by SPV in May 2006, the record delivered the same melodic yet forceful, top-tier heavy metal Owens had honed with both Priest and his earlier Winters Bane ensemble, signaling that further accomplishments, even if on a more modest level, remained within reach for the singer.
